Metallic fabric.



C. E.-BEDIENT.

METALLIC FABRIG.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1906.

Patented Oct. 13,1908.

jzzdezzzvvgift/Z625 zzzf, v z gwgmv CLARENCE E. BEDIENT, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS.

METALLIC FABRIC.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 2, 1906.

Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

Serial No. 314,880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE E. BEDIENT, citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Metallic Fabrics, of which the following is a secification.

My invention herein cescribed relates to metallic fabrics for mats andother purposes. It is of that class in which the fabric is composed ofunits made of thin fiat bars or strips of metal connected by wires orrods uniting the units and forming hinges therefor, whereby the fabricis made flexible.

My invention relates to the construction of these units; to a yieldingfilling therefor; and to means for connecting the wires or rods by meansof which the units are held together.

My said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a portion of such fabric sufficient forillustration. Fig. 2 is a section on line 11 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows inedge view one part of a unit partly broken away, and Fig. 4 is a likeview of the other part of such unit artly broken away. Fig. 5 is a planview en arged, of the couplin and Fig. 6 a section thereof longitudinaly through wires and coupling. Fig. 7 is a side, and Fi 8 a cross sectionof aform of the filling bloc The units are composed of two simple formsof parts. Of these, one indicated at 3, is a piece of thin metal stripwith the ends bent in the same direction at right angles and perforatedin the same line. This same form is used for the two ends of the unit.The sides of the unit are composed of the same kind of strip as the endsbut consists of a plain strip 3 with the ends perforated so that theperforations therein register with the perforations in the end stripswhen the side strips are lapped upon the ends as shown in Fig. 1. Theparts are united to form the units and the units are united to form agroup or mat by means of wires or rods 5, which pass through the holes.

This construction is such that the same wires unite the parts of theunit and the units of the group and these wires are located in everyinstance across and'near the ends of the units. This forms a simple andsubstantial construction and one which is easy to make and assemble,since for themain body of the fabric there are only two kinds of parts,the bent end strips and the flat side strips.

It will be observed that the units form rectangular pockets with anopening at top and bottom and having bars across the ends. I combinewith this construction a suitable filling block, shown at 6. It may bemade of wood, felt, rubber or rubber compound, or of a fibrouscomposition. Preferably, I form the blocks of a material known asrubberoid roofing in sheet form cut as shown in Fig. 7, with endnotches, so that when assembled and set on edge they form blocks withtransverse grooves across their ends adapted to engage with thetransverse rods so that they may be set into place and beheld by theengagement of the rods with the grooves. I do not, however, limit myselfto the material, nor to these notches in the blocks as they may be heldin the units in other ways. Preferably I make the blocks of a greaterdepth than that of the metal fabric so that the surface of the blocksmay rise above that of the metal parts.

It will be observed that the rods or wires 5 project to the outside ofthe units and have their ends bent towards each other so as to overlap.I have devised a new mode of connecting these ends in which heretoforesome difliculty has been found. It is necessary to connect these endssecurely and it is desir able to have a neat finish in the connectionand that the connection may be readily and certainly made. To this end Iform the coupling by means of a short piece of tube 8, preferablyflattened and fitted to be sli ped over the lapped ends of the wires, wich, when the sleeve is thus in place should eX- tend at the oppositeends beyond the sleeve. These ends, as indicated at 8, are then bent inopposite directions, back upon the sleeve. This is easily done, andmakes a perfectly secure connection, neat and convenient. Thisconnection of the wires or rods may be applied at any point in thefabric.

In connection with the filling blocks, I do not limit myself to theparticular shape of the cavities or open spaces inclosed by the metallicstrips, as these may be varied and still inclose the blocks or filling.

When the blocks are in place they are bound and held in the units by themetal strips which closely contain and protect them, and this is ofspecial importance when the blocks are composed of the rubberoid sheetsaggregated and contained in the units. The rubberoid is a cheap materialand has a special advantage in the clinging effect it has upon the soleof the shoe.

I claim:

1. A metallic fabric composed of transverse rows of units, each unitcomprising two U-shaped members arranged with their open side facingeach other and the two plain side pieces the units of one rowalternating with the spaces between the unit of the adjacent row and theadjacent U-shaped members of adjacent rows facing in opposite directionsand the rods passing through the oppositely facing U-shaped members,substantially as described.

2. In a metallic fabric the combination of units composedof metalstrips, rods or wires connecting said units, said rods or wires beingspaced apart, and blocks having forked opposite ends engaging the saidrods or wires and being removable therefrom, and replace- I able intoconnection therewith without rcmoving the said rods, substantially as described.

3. In a metallic fabric composed of metal strips forming units andconnected by rods or wires, a coupling consisting of a sleeve with theends of the rods overlapping therein and extended beyond the ends of thesleeve and bent back thereon.

4. A fabric composed of units, each consisting of two rectangular piecesand two plain pieces extending between the rectangular pieces with rodspassing through said. rectangular and plain pieces and blocks fittingwithin the said units and having notched ends engaging the rods,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE E. BEDIENT.

Witnesses EDWARD N. SARTON, HENRY E. COOPER.

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